The Project:
This project was started end of December 2009. Up to now we have an almost "fully" working FMC.
There is still a lot of beta testing to be done but things move quite fast.
Meantime we are busy catching all the bugs, and trying to get this operational.
As for now, this FMC is only working on Windows. (Sorry no Linux, No Mac yet) We plan to port the plugin to other OS but later...
A short manual has been written to help you using this plugin but you must have a basic knowledge of FMC first !
The main specifiactions:
Fully designed FMC
Included sounds for more realism
Configurable behaviour for each plane (via config files)
Direct integration to X-PlaneUpdatable Navdata (using x-plane navdata and navigraph)
Include SID / STAR
Even more...
How it works:
Longitudinal navigation
The FMC does not interfere in the autopilot of Xplane, but is "using" the xplane autopilot. By doing so, it avoids interfering with other systems or plugins...
X-FMC can directly interact with Speed, Heading, vertical speed and altitude to reproduce LNAV and VNAV while taking engines specs into account !Take-off, climbing and cruise phases are then fully configurable.
X-FMC can be disabled at any time by clicking on the "A/C" button and removed from screen easilty by hiting F9 key.
Even if disactivated,the X-FMC continues to calculate the course/speed/fuel/ETA so you can easily resume on navigation.If you decide to change route or are doing radar vetoring, the X-FMC will then need you to confirm again the flight plan by editing or removing passed nav points...
SID and STAR procedures can be easily inserted given you have the latest available data !
Vertical Navigation
XFMC calculates a dynamic Optimal Climb Speed and Rate depending on the thrust, the weight and altitude. Depending on winds and actual data, the FMC will continuously calculate the V/S to give the best N1 rate !
X-FMC will estimate a TOC and TOD. The TOC is not exactly used for a purpose only to shift the VNAV from CLB mode to CRUISE mode.
The TOD is used to calculated a point where X-FMC should start his descent to reach the airport altitude in a normal and safe way.For the descent phase, the plane is held at a glide slope of 3 degrees. This means that starting at a high altitude the V/S will be higher than at low altitudes but always in reasonables limits.
If descent could not be made in a safe way, the FMC will refuse to comply...
During the Cruise phase, X-FMC just continues to calculate the ETA and fuel left at ETA.
Hope this project will bring you much more pleasure to fly in X-Plane !